Republic Day Italy History

Republic Day commemorates the day on which Italian citizens voted on a new form of government. Following the fall of Mussolini’s fascist Italy, Italians voted for a democratic republic over a monarchy. Republic Day is considered the birth of the Italian nation and today, it is one of the most important days in Italian history.

Republic Day is held on 2 June, the same day on which the institutional referendum was held in 1946. Every year since 1948, Italians around the world have gathered to celebrate their choice of a republic in the aftermath of World War II.

Republic Day Italy Facts & Quotes

Italy had become a fascist dictatorship before it was a republic. The Italians were ruled by a ruthless dictator named Benito Mussolini for nearly 20 years before he was defeated in World War II and then executed.

After WWII, Italy had a small and highly fragile economy. Today, Italy has one of the largest GDPs in the world with over a trillion dollars moving through the economy annually.

Prior to the formation of a Republic, Italy had been a Kingdom since 1861 under the monarchy of the Savoy family.

Italians who voted in the 1946 referendum had to choose between a republic and a monarchy. The republic received around 12 million votes while the monarchy only received around 10 million.

We always hear about the rights of democracy, but the major responsibility of it is participation. - Wynton Marsalis, trumpeter, composer and teacher.

Republic Day Italy Top Events and Things to Do

Go to the Palazzo del Quirinale. Republic Day marks the palace’s official opening. The palace is home to some of the most beautiful gardens in the nation and beautiful views of Rome can be seen from the residence.

Learn about other referendums and how their outcomes impact citizens and the world. Referendums allow citizens to choose between two different courses of action for one political question. There have been some monumental referendums over the past few decades: The Quebec Referendum, The UK’s EU Referendum and the Eritrean Referendum.

Attend the Republic Day parade in Rome or in another Italian city centre. It takes place in the afternoon and it involves all components of the armed forces and the police. It is one of the biggest displays throughout the entire celebration, including fireworks and activities for the kids.

Read a book about Italy and fascism during WWII in order to better understand the birth of the Italian Republic. Some of our favourites are: The Day of Battle, Naples ’44, Bold Action: Armies of Italy, The Doctrine of Fascism, My Rise and Fall, Italy and its Monarchy and World War II in Italy.

Spread awareness on social media by using the hashtags #RepublicDay, #ItalyRepublicDay and #1946Referendum.